Beavers Come Back In the Ninth To Take Down GCU 3-1

Oregon State and Grand Canyon University faced off in another close fought pitching duel, but the Beavers pulled through in the ninth, thanks to some late game heroics from Joe Casey, to get a 3-1 win. The Beavers improve to 5-1 on the season.

After a scoreless two innings, Grand Canyon scored first in the bottom of the third, when a Jacob Wilson single scored Channy Ortiz. The Beavers managed no hits through the first four innings, until Kyler McMahan doubled in the fifth to extend his hitting streak. The Beavers couldn’t capitalize on it, and remained down 1-0.

GCU starter Pierson Ohl continued to stymie the Beavers, only allowing one hit in the sixth and one in the eighth. The Beaver pitching held the Antelopes scoreless for the rest of the game, but Oregon State could not just not make anything happen offensively.

The ninth started with Preston Jones striking out swining. Ryan Ober was then walked, but Matthew Gretler grounded into a fielder’s choice. That left the Beavers with 2 outs and one on. A Troy Claunch single moved Gretler into scoring position. Joe Casey then stepped the plate, and belted a double that gave OSU a pair of runs and their first lead of the game.

Kyler McMahan would add one more with a single to score Casey, and the Beavers headed to the ninth with a 3-1 lead. Jake Mulholland came in to close, and the Antelopes went three up, three down to give the Beavers the win.

Cooper Hjerpe pitched another good game as the starter, He threw for 6.0 innings, allowing 2 hits and 1 earned run. He struck out 2 and walked 2. Reid Sebby was credited the win, coming in in relief in the eighth, while Mulholland got the Save, his first of the year.

The Beavers and Antelopes will meet for the third time tomorrow morning, with first pitch set for 11:00 AM PT. Grand Canyon will be streaming the game on their youtube channel.